The 2nd Nakotah LaRance Memorial Youth Hoop Dance Championship celebrates the passion Nakotah had for empowering our Native youth through dance and culture. Nakotah is credited for bringing the Native American Hoop Dance back to New Mexico. His work inspired a young boy, Valentino Tzigiwhaeno Rivera (2008-2016), to become a hoop dancer, whose wish was that all young Native youth could learn this dance.
In honor of Valentino, Nakotah helped inspire and found The Lightning Boy Foundation, whose mission is to nurture and empower our Native youth through cultural programming. Nakotah LaRance (Hopi-Tewa) (1989-2020) was a nine time World Hoop Dance Champion, award-winning actor, and humanitarian.
